From Claire Saffitz.

Thank you to Heilala Vanilla for sponsoring today’s episode. Their vanilla is perfect for holiday baking and also makes a wonderful gift.
Enjoy 20% off with code CLAIRE25 at www.heilalavanilla.com on all regular-priced products!

Is this a new dessert? In today’s episode, I’m combining elements of crème caramel, tres leches, and a classic genoise sponge cake to create what I’m calling a Crème Caramel Custard Cake. Instead of soaking the cake in the traditional three-milk mixture like tres leches, I soak a genoise in a pourable custard base and let it rest overnight, so the cake absorbs the custard and becomes tender, silky, and sliceable beneath a glossy caramel top.

The flavor really centers on vanilla, so I’m using Heilala Vanilla, which adds a warm, floral depth that carries through both the custard and sponge. High-quality vanilla makes a noticeable difference in a dessert this simple.

This recipe requires patience: making caramel without crystallizing, whipping a stable genoise batter, soaking overnight, and baking gently so the custard sets without curdling. The result is a cake that looks dramatic when unmolded and has the soft, jiggly texture of flan with the structure of cake.
#clairesaffitz #tresleches #flan #custard #cake

Creme Caramel Cake
Serves 8
Cake
300g (6 large) eggs
188g sugar
Pinch of salt
188g flour, sifted
40g butter, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Caramel
3/4 cup granulated sugar

Custard
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
½ vanilla bean
Generous pinch of kosher salt
6 large egg yolks (3.2 oz / 90g), at room temperature
2 large eggs (3.5 oz / 100g), at room temperature
½ cup demerara sugar (3.5 oz / 100g)

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:58 Ingredients & Special Equipment
03:59 Heilala Vanilla
05:23 Make the Sponge Cake
13:28 Make the Caramel
16:05 Make the Custard
20:30 Trim the Cake & Assemble
30:12 Remove & Let Cool
31:42 Serve
35:34 Cat cam

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Video Series:
Producer/Director: Vincent Cross
Camera Operator: Calvin Robertson
Editor/Motion Graphics: Hal McFall

Animation Credits:
Character Designer/Animator/Backgrounds: Jack Sherry
Character Rigger: Johara Dutton